Voctron: a low weight portable air sampling device

Abstract

A low weight portable air sampling device comprising a housing at least partially enclosing an inlet for receiving an air or breath sample; a removable liner coupled to the inlet containing sorbing materials; a micro-pump for regulating air flow within the device; and an outlet for emitting the air or breath sample from the device is described. The device may be used to collect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of both biotic and abiotic origin.

We claim: 
     
       1. A portable low weight air sampling device comprising:
 a housing at least partially enclosing
 an inlet for receiving an air or breath sample, wherein the inlet is defined by an open cavity passing through and bounded by a removable cap; 
 a removable liner coupled to the cap such that the liner and the cap can be removed from the device as a single unit, wherein the removable liner contains sorbing materials; 
 a micro-pump for regulating air flow within the device; and 
 an outlet for emitting the air or breath sample from the device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable liner holder containing the liner. 
     
     
       3. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory attached to the inlet for receiving an air or breath sample selected from the group consisting of a mouthpiece, a plate for skin sniffing, a funnel, and a tube. 
     
     
       4. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 3 , wherein the mouthpiece is attached to the inlet and a filter for trapping moisture is arranged between the mouthpiece and the liner. 
     
     
       5. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbing materials comprise one or more of silica gel, activated charcoal, porous polymers, polydimethylsiloxane, and porous anodic alumina. 
     
     
       6. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-pump is a diaphragm pump. 
     
     
       7. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow meter for measuring the air flow rate. 
     
     
       8. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 7 , further comprising a display for showing the air flow rate. 
     
     
       9. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a master switch to operate the device. 
     
     
       10. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 9 , wherein the master switch has three positions: switched off, reduced flow, and full flow, wherein the full flow position is configured to provide a first predefined flow level and the reduced flow position is configured to provide a second predefined flow level that is lower than the first predefined flow level. 
     
     
       11. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet comprises a removable filter for trapping microorganisms. 
     
     
       12. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for powering the device. 
     
     
       13. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein a side of the housing includes a cavity configured to hold the removable liner in place when the removable liner is inserted. 
     
     
       14. A method for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample, comprising:
 collecting a breath sample from a subject using a device as claimed in  claim 1  by
 i) positioning a mouthpiece connected to the inlet of the device to the subject's mouth; and 
 ii) powering the device on for a predetermined time; 
 
 removing the liner from the device; and 
 desorbing VOCs adsorbed to the liner for analysis. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein a moisture filter is arranged between the mouthpiece and the liner and the moisture filter is replaced before and/or after the collecting step. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein an exhaust filter is coupled to the outlet and the exhaust filter is replaced before and/or after the collecting step. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the device comprises a master switch having three positions: switched off, reduced flow, and full flow and the device is set to reduced flow during the collecting step. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collecting step is performed for 20-30 minutes. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the liner is conditioned for reuse after the VOCs are desorbed. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the analysis comprises gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and/or other detectors. 
     
     
       21. A method for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in an environmental sample, comprising:
 collecting an environmental air sample using a device as claimed in  claim 1  by
 i) positioning a funnel connected to the inlet of the device towards an air space to be sampled; and 
 ii) powering the device on for a predetermined time; 
 
 removing the liner from the device; and 
 desorbing VOCs adsorbed to the liner for analysis. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the collecting step is performed for 30-60 minutes. 
     
     
       23. The portable low weight air sampling device of  claim 1 , wherein the device weighs less than one pound. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the device comprises a master switch having three positions: switched off, reduced flow, and full flow and the device is set to reduced flow and full flow during the collecting step.